Unite, Britain’s leading union, has welcomed an excellent agreement with vehicle components supplier Plastic Omnium in Warrington to furlough workers on full pay during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Under the job retention scheme, workers can receive 80 per cent of their wages from the government up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The agreement with Plastic Omnium means the company will meet the cost of an additional 20 per cent for around 150 full-time workers to bring them up to 100 per cent of pay.

Plastic Omnium is a major supplier of exterior components to automotive clients including Jaguar Land Rover.

Unite regional officer Julie Burgess said: “This is an excellent deal for the workforce at Plastic Omnium in Warrington which supplies JLR in Halewood. The company has agreed to top up the government’s job retention scheme to give the full-time workforce their full pay. It shows what’s possible where there is a strong union in the workplace and a company that is prepared to take their responsibilities to staff seriously.